Pole Position Sealed: Russell edges Verstappen in Singapore qualifying
George Russell delivered a sensational Q3 lap to take pole position for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, extending Mercedes’ strong form into the night race at Marina Bay. After setting provisional pole on his first run, Russell found 0.007 seconds on his second Q3 attempt to edge out Max Verstappen, with Oscar Piastri nipping at their heels in third. The result marks Russell’s second pole of the season, following his Canadian GP display which ultimately culminated in victory.
Qualifying narrative: how Russell claimed pole
The session began with the usual tense mix of strategy and risk across the high-speed street circuit. Russell’s pace on the long, braking-heavy sectors allowed him to put Mercedes atop the board once Q2 concluded, but the real drama unfolded on the final laps of Q3. Verstappen, chasing a pole in front of the Singapore crowd, matched the benchmark but could not quite topple Russell on his final run. Piastri, continuing his strong form this season, showed adaptability and speed, ending just fractions behind, while Kimi Antonelli secured a breakthrough in fourth, edging out Lando Norris by a slim margin.
The trench of pace: Norris and Hamilton on the margins
Lando Norris finished fifth, a commendable effort that saw him just miss out on a front-row start. The McLaren driver delivered consistent laps, but the sector times in Q3 were unforgiving on a track that rewards precision. Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari this weekend, qualified sixth, continuing a pattern of close calls as the pack shuffled for the optimal grid position in Singapore’s tight confines.
Yellow flag incident and its impact
Racing never stops surprising at Marina Bay. Russell faced a yellow flag infringement investigation during the session, a reminder that every millisecond can become a legal knot to untangle in F1’s compliance-driven era. The stewards reviewed the footage and timing, but ultimately cleared Russell to retain pole. The outcome meant Mercedes could celebrate a second pole of the season, reinforcing the team’s upgrade path and Russell’s ability to convert pole into high-stakes race results.
<h2 Why pole matters in Singapore
Singapore represents one of F1’s most demanding race tracks for both car setup and driver endurance. A pole position offers track position into the first corner, a critical advantage given the difficulty of overtaking on the tight, twisty segments after the start. For Russell and Mercedes, pole is not merely a single-lap feat; it is a platform to control the race tempo, protect from pressure from Verstappen’s Red Bull, and set up strategic options for the tire and pit window choices under Marina Bay’s cool night air.
What to watch on Sunday
The grid now pins Verstappen, Piastri, Antonelli, Norris, Hamilton, and the rest of the field into a classic Singapore Grand Prix battle. With several teams carrying upgrades and the endurance element playing a pivotal role, the start is as important as the pace in the middle stints. Expect a strategic dogfight, with pit-stop timing, tire choice, and traffic management likely to shape the podium order as the lights go out.
Full qualifying results snapshot
1) George Russell (Mercedes) – pole; 2) Max Verstappen (Red Bull); 3) Oscar Piastri (McLaren); 4) Kimi Antonelli (Ferrari); 5) Lando Norris (McLaren); 6) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari); … and the rest of the field placing behind in a tightly packed grid.
With pole secured and a clean bill of health from the stewards, Russell heads into Sunday’s race as a serious challenger for victory in Singapore, with Verstappen and Piastri in close pursuit. The 2025 Singapore Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the most compelling nights of Formula 1 in recent memory.
